Leonard j



(No Model.)

L. J. LOHLEIN,

SHEEP SHBARS. N0. 541,862. Patented July 2, 1895.

WITNESSES. IIYVENTOH "7 I ATTORNEYS.

NITED STATES PATENT Finch.

LEONARD J. LOHLEIN, OF LUSK, \VYOMING, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALETO JAMES L.HECTOR, OF SAME PLACE.

SHEEP-SHEARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 541,862, dated July 2,1895. Application filed February 16, 1893. Serial No. 462,549- (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern..-

Be it known that I, LEONARD J. LOI-ILEIN, of Lusk, in the county ofConverse and State of WVyoming, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Sheep-Shears, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of an in1- proved sheep shears, designedto avoid the necessity of having a large number of shears of differentsizes, and designed also to facilitate the grinding of the shears, andto adapt the shears quickly to thepeculiar consistency or condition ofthe wool upon different sheep. To these ends my invention consists inshears having a special form of handle adapted to receive and combinedwith a series of detachable cutting blades which are quicklyinterchangeable as hereinafter fully described.

Figure 1 is a side view of the shears with one-half of the handle insection, and Fig. 2 is an inside View of one-half of the handle.

In the drawings A A are the two sides of the handle, which are madeexactly alike, both being hollowed out on their adjacent faces and maderounding upon the outside, and slightly larger in the middle to afford agood grasp to the hand. These handle sections may be made of anysuitable material, but they are preferably made of malleable cast iron,and to their lower ends are securely fastened by rivets the twinsections B B of the double bow spring which is made of tempered steelwith an elasticity sufficient to throw the blades and handle sectionsapart after being squeezed together in the hand.

The handle sections A are formed with a slotted lug a at their outerends and another b near the spring, which slots are adapted to receivethe tapering shanks c of the detachable blades O. These shanks are madefiat upon the sides and wide enough to fit snugly in the slots withoutturning and without any loose motion, the shanks being broadest near theblades, so that they may have a wide bearing at this point. To hold themmore firmly in place against turning, a shoulder d is formed on the backof the blade, which is adapted to drop into a notch e in the end of thehandle when the blades are fixed in place.

To look the blades securely within the handle, a notch or shoulder 01 isformed on the shank of the blade which, when the blade is forced in asfar as it will go, is caught by a spring detent or catch D which isriveted in the hollow of the handle. The free end of this catch is bentaround outside the shank so as to be accessible for pressure by thethumb when it is desired to throw the catch out of the notch d,'as isnecessary in removing the blade from the handle. At the point where thiscatch is riveted to the handle it is formed with a slotted end whosebranches f fare bent up on opposite sides of the shank of the blade, andare made to grasp the same so as to help hold the shank firmly.

In shearing sheep, sometimes the wool is found to be close, dense, andmatted, and slender or narrow blades are used so as to enter the woolwithout pulling it and at other times wide blades are more desirable.With my invention the blades are made in series of different sizes andshapes and any one may be quickly inserted in the place of another. Ingrinding the blades also it is an awkward job, when the blades are inone piece with the handle, and the blades have to be sprung out so as tosometimes permanently distort them. This is all obviated, and thegrinding rendered easier by having the blades detachable, and the bladesmay be ground more true. Furthermore when the blades are worn bygrinding, their shanks may be bent so as to bring their points intooperative relation, even after the ordinary shears have to be castaside. Again one handle only needs to be used with a great number ofblades and there are thus secured an economy in the cost of the sets ofshears, and greater compactness in storing and caring for the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is--- l. The combination in sheep shears, ofthe hollow handle sections A with slotted lugs a and b, the blades 0with shanks having notches cl, and the spring detent D substantially asshown and described.

2. The combination in sheep shears of the hollow handle sections Ahaving the notches 6 in their ends and provided with the slotted shanksc; of a spring catch D having its ends lugs ab, the blades 0 providedwith the sh0ulff arranged to grasp the shank substantially der d toenter the notches e andwith the taas shown and described. 7 peringshanks 0 having the notches d and the 5 spring detent D, substantiallyas described. Vitnesses:

3. The combination with the hollow handle D. E. GODDARD, section A andthe blades having notched MATILDA GODDARD.

LEONARD J. LOHLEIN.

